FEATURED AUTHORS AND ARTISTS

FaerieCon is glad to announce the first of many artist updates for 2008. This page of featured artists and authors lists will be updated weekly. Check back soon for more!

ALAN LEE	BRIAN FROUD	WENDY FROUD	HOLLY BLACK
JESSICA GALBRETH	LINDA RAVENSCROFT	KINUKO CRAFT	MICHAEL HAGUE
CHARLES VESS	JASMINE BECKETT-GRIFFITH	CAITLIN MATTHEWS	JOHN MATTHEWS
ARI BERK	HELENA NELSON-REED	DIANA ZIMMERMAN	JEN DELYTH
		and more to come!
PAUL BORDA	J. CORSENTINO

FAERIECON HOSTS: BRIAN & WENDY FROUD

For over thirty years, international best selling artist, author and film designer Brian Froud has been recognized as an authority on faeries and faery lore and is the artistic inspiration for The Faerieworlds Festival. His significant accomplishments span a wide variety of media: The multi-million selling book, FAERIES created with fantasy and Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee is considered a modern classic. His conceptual design work with Jim Henson on the classic feature films THE DARK CRYSTAL, LABYRINTH and other Henson projects set new standards for design, puppeteering and animatronics in film, are landmarks in the evolution of modern day special effects and continue to attract an international cult following. His published works include the best selling LADY COTTINGTON’S PRESSED FAIRY BOOK, GOOD FAERIES / BAD FAERIES, LADY COTTINGTON’S PRESSED FAIRY ALBUM, and THE RUNES OF ELFLAND, GOBLINS and LADY COTTINGTON’S PRESSED FAIRY LETTERS with author and folklorist Ari Berk.

Wendy Froud worked as sculptor and puppet builder for Jim Henson for many years, primarily on the films THE DARK CRYSTAL for which she sculpted “Jen” and “Kira”, LABYRINTH and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK for which she sculpted “Yoda”. Other work for Jim Henson included THE MUPPET SHOW and THE MUPPET MOVIE. Wendy has also made puppets for use in television commercials. With author Terri Windling, she created three books illustrated by tableaus of her dolls, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S FAERIE TALE, THE WINTER CHILD and THE FAERIES OF SPRING COTTAGE. Wendy’s dolls and figures are highly sought after and are in many prestigious collections around the world. www.worldoffroud.com

2008 FEATURED AUTHORS & ARTISTS

ARI BERK
Dr. Ari Berk is a writer, visual artist, and scholar of literature, history, iconography, and comparative myth. His publications have included academic studies on myth and ancient cultures, as well as popular works on myth for both children and adults. He is the author of The Runes of Elfland, Goblins!, and Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters, three books created with artist Brian Froud. Deeply dedicated to an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research and writing, Dr. Berk holds degrees in Ancient History and American Indian Studies, as well as a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Culture. He is now a professor in the English department at Central Michigan University, where he teaches Mythology, Folklore, and American Indian Literature.

JASMINE BECKET-GRIFFITH
"Jasmine Becket-Griffith is a talented young artist who paints... vivid, exquisitely colored paintings...Specializing in fairies with occasional excursions into various spiritual/mythological traditions (I've seen paintings based on Polynesian, Mayan, Hindu and Greek themes so far) as well as some of the darker aspects of childhood bedtime tales. All her work is subtly connected by an overlaying gothic feel that adds depth and additional dimension to all she does drawing her audience irresistibly into her magical realm. Jasmine has definitely sparked the imagination of many and has attracted a varied and ever growing audience to her artwork."-From Amazon.com.   For more visit strangeling.com

HOLLY BLACK
Holly Black is the bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children. Her first book, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was published in 2002 by Simon & Schuster. Tithe was called "dark, edgy, beautifully written and compulsively readable" by Booklist, received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and was included in the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults. Holly has since written two other books in the same universe, Valiant (2005), and the sequel to Tithe, Ironside (2007). Valiant was recorded as an unabridged audiobook by Renee Raudman for Listening Library, was a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award for Young Readers and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

Holly collaborated with her long-time friend, Caldecott award winning artist, Tony DiTerlizzi, to create the bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles. The first two books, The Field Guide and The Seeing Stone were released together in 2003 by Simon & Schuster, with the next three, Lucinda's Secret (2003), The Ironwood Tree (2004) and The Wrath of Mulgarath (2004), following in rapid succession. The Wrath of Mulgarath climbed to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. The five-book serial has been called "vintage Victorian fantasy" by the New York Post and Time Magazine reported that "the books wallow in their dusty Olde Worlde charm." The chapter books were recorded as an audiobook by Mark Hamill for Listening Library. The lavishly illustrated Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to The Fantastical World Around You (2005), The Notebook for Fantastical Observations (2005), and Care and Feeding of Sprites (2006) expanded the Spiderwick universe. To date, the books have been translated into 32 languages. Three more Spiderwick chapter books are planned, with the first one expected to be released in Fall of 2007.

The Spiderwick Chronicles were adapted into a film by Paramount Pictures in conjunction with Nickelodeon Films. Released in February 2008, the film stars Freddie Highmore and Sarah Bolger, with Mark Waters as the director.Holly has also been a frequent contributor to anthologies, including The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm (2004), Young Warriors: Stories of Strength (2005), Coyote Road (2007), 21 Proms (2007), The Restless Dead (2007), So Fey (2007), and Villains (2008).

PAUL BORDA
Paul Borda is the artistic hand behind the magical products offered internationally by Dryad Design, Ltd. Most of his designs begin as wood carvings and are reproduced as statues or interpreted into jewelry, t-shirts and other items. The world of Faery is an integral part of his everyday life. Some of his closest friends are members of the unseen realms. He lives with the love of his life, a cadre of faeries and his beloved dog in the wild foothills of Vermont’s Green Mountains.   For more visit dryaddesign.com.

J. CORSENTINO
Joseph Corsentino has always been attracted to science fiction and fantasy. Born in Bogota, Columbia in August 1978 and immediately adopted by a Long Island, American-Italian family, Joseph's bi-cultural background gave him an amazing imagination. Joseph spent his youth creating videos, writing, and studying temporal theories. After years of study in photography, Joseph began work of "Time of the Faeries" project, a project inspired by many of the people he knew growing up, which merged his photographic talents with his deep interest in fantasy. His take on the faerie lore is based on urban myths, our current political climate, and the spirits who carry on none the less. While beautiful, it contains his vision of the chaos and tragedy that is present in a fading, counter culture.For more visit timeofthefaeries.com

KINUKO CRAFT
Kinuko Y. Craft considers her self a story teller. She is one of the most widely respected and well known fantasy artists in the United States today. Her narrative art has included paintings for the book covers of many well known fantasy authors, opera posters, fairy tale books and covers for many national magazines. During her career she has become known for meticulous attention to detail, a passionate love of fine art and a deep knowledge of art history. Her fairy tale books are currently distributed in the USA, other English language countries, Europe, Greece, China and Korea. Her work has been widely exhibited and is now in private collections in New York City, Atlanta GA, Santa Barbara CA, Dallas TX, Connecticut, San Francisco CA, Italy, Japan and Greece. For more visit kycraft.com

COURTNEY DAVIS
The art of Courtney Davis is an expression of the ancient symbols, myths and legends of the Celtic culture and he creates his images through the inspiration of the Celtic Spirit. The mastery of his art has been achieved through 30 years of dedication as a self-taught artist. His paintings are in gouache and ink, many of which may be found in over 50 books that feature his artworks. His vibrant treatment of colour, intricacy of design, and true composition interpret the ancient culture in a contemporary style that is extraordinary. To view his art is to enter into a realm of fascination...-ArtiCulture. For more visit http://www.celtic-art.com

JEN DELYTH
Welsh artist Jen Delyth creates original Celtic paintings and illustrations which explore the language of myth and symbol inspired by Celtic Folklore and the Spirit within Nature. Her body of work spans an array of media including traditional egg tempera painting, oil painting, printmaking, textile design as well as computer illustration and multimedia animation. Limited Edition Giclées are made by the artist in her studio using archival materials and inks to produce Fine Art Museum quality prints. Jen Delyth’s original Celtic artwork has been widely published and exhibited in North America, and back in her native Wales and in Europe. Recent work includes a series of Celtic Animations collaged with Celtic poetry and music available as “Beyond the Ninth Wave” interactive DVD. Jen's new book “Celtic Folk Soul” is a retrospective of her artwork and writing inspired by the of the last 20 years which will be published Spring 2008. For more visit kelticdesigns.com

JESSICA GALBRETH
Mythic fantasy artist Jessica Galbreth crafts her original works of art mostly with watercolors, pen and ink, but at times also utilizes an airbrush and acrylic for certain effects. Jessica's work is available in numerous formats, from prints to greeting cards to calendars and books to collectible figurines and ceramics produced from leading manufacturers throughout the world. With distribution of her art and inspired products reaching as far as Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan, Jessica has truly become a world-renown artist. She is perhaps most celebrated for her ability to capture the haunting and often mysterious beauty of goddesses and faeries from mythology. Each of her visions brought to life on paper have a personality of their own, and often evoke strong feelings in those who view them. Some of her faeries are elegant, sweet and wistful, while others are defiant, dark and powerful. For more visit enchantedart.com

MICHAEL HAGUE
Michael Hague is one of America's foremost illustrators. He is perhaps best known for his series of children's classics, which includes such favorites as The Wind in the Willows, The Velveteen Rabbit, Mother Goose, The Secret Garden, Peter Pan, the Hobbit, the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and more. He is also the creator of "The Book of Faeries", "The Book of Pirates, and "The Book of Dragons" amongst others. He is renowned for the intricate and realistic detail he brings to his work, and the rich colors he chooses. More information is available at www.michaelhague.com.

JOHN & CAITLIN MATTHEWS
John & Caitlín Matthews are respected initiators in the Shamanic, Celtic and Arthurian traditions, and have opened many doors to a reappreciation of the mythic heritage of the Western World. They are the authors of over 90 books. John's best-loved works are The Celtic Shaman, King Arthur and The Winter Solstice. Caitlin's books include The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot, Celtic Devotional, and Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom, Bride of God.

They are the joint authors of Walkers Between Worlds, The Element Encyclopaedia of Magical Creatures, and The Arthurian Tarot. They have also written several children's books on myth. Their books have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, German, Czech, Dutch, Hebrew, Portuguese, Danish, Korean, Japanese, Finish and Russian.The material in their books is based upon practical knowledge, which they teach worldwide. Together they have pioneered the shamanic use of the vatic and spiritual elements within ancestral and Celtic traditions.

The Matthews are co-founders of The Foundation of Inspirational and Oracular Studies. They have made numerous appearances on TV in the United Kingdom and the US, and have been advisors on several TV series. John was recently the historical advisor to the Hollywood blockbuster King Arthur. They live in Oxford where Caitlín has a shamanic practice dedicated to midwifing the soul.For more visit hallowquest.org.uk

HELENA NELSON - REED
Helena Nelson - Reed is an American visionary artist specializing in luminous watercolor and fine art illustration. Published works include cover art for magazines, and books, and imagery portrayed in the ‘Call of the Goddess’ calendar, card, Native American Spirit, and Visions of the Shaman cards  Her primary focus is the portrayal of archetypal imagery, exploring the collective consciousness evident in  fairytale, myth, and shamanism as well as personal dreams and experiences. Rendered in technique most often described as ephemeral and unique, Nelson – Reed’s paintings are lovingly created in extraordinary detail, pushing the medium of watercolor and dream past the usual limits.
For more visit fine-art-studios.com

LINDA RAVENSCROFT
Linda Ravenscroft is a British fantasy watercolorist whose workis internationally acclaimed. Her delicately detailed and vibrantfaeries can be found on jig saw puzzles, T-shirts, cards and many other licensed products. In addition, she offers prints and originalpaintings to her customers through her on-line web gallery. Like so many of the artists featured here, Linda has been painting fantasy imagery since she was a child. She finds it as a way toescape the mundane and sometimes terrible "real world". For more visit lindaravenscroft.com

CHARLES VESS
The renown mythic artwork of Charles Vess has been featured in gallery and museum exhibitions across the nation, including the first major exhibition of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art. His award-winning work has also graced the pages of numerous comic books, with publishers such as Marvel, DC, Darkhorse and Epic. In 1991, Charles shared the prestigious World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story with Neil Gaiman for their collaboration on Sandman #19 - the first and only time a comic book has held this honor. Over the last 15 years Charles has continued to produce evocative works that have earned him various awards and his work has graced numerous books. In 2007, Stardust, the bestselling book created by Charles Vess and Neil Gaiman will be released worldwide as a feature film starring Robert Deniro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Claire Danes. For more visit GreenManPress.com

DIANA ZIMMERMAN
Diana’s role in the performing arts and the business world transcends the ordinary. She has been a performer and businesswoman since the age of eight when she invested all of her resources into a small magic trick that became the wellspring for a spectacular 25-year career as "America's Foremost Lady Magician.” She starred in her own television show, toured internationally and created, starred and staged Las Vegas style magic and music revues. Diana invented magic illusions for David Copperfield and Lance Burton, and is a highly respected lecturer, writer, and teacher in the world of magic. She sponsors a young magician's group at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle—an organization Diana founded in 1974 with the help of legendary actor, Cary Grant. Currently, Diana is CEO of CMS Communications, Intl.—an international marketing communications agency whose clients include many of the Fortune 500.

A lifetime lover of faery and an avid collector of faery art, Diana's collection is one of the largest in the world and includes bronzes, porcelains, paintings, books, and etchings ranging from the mid 1700s to contemporary works. Kandide: The Secret of the Mists is the first of three novels inspired by her childhood memories of the faery stories and the painting, "Frost" by Australian faery artist Maxine Gadd which now graces the cover of Kandide and her color paintings illuminate the book's interior. Diana resides in Los Angeles. For more visit: www.kandide.com